Tube coupling for connecting an object to one end of a tube in a uhv tight manner and vessel with such a tube coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube coupling (TC 2 ) for connecting an object ( 22 ) to one end of a tube ( 20 ) in a UHV tight manner, withstanding pressures up to several hundred bars and accommodating temperature differences from heating or cooling, said tube coupling (TC 2 ) comprising said tube ( 20 ) and a tube fitting ( 10 ), wherein said tube fitting ( 10 ) comprises a basically cylindrical body ( 11 ) with a first central bore for receiving said tube ( 20 ), such that said tube ( 20 ) is axially supported by a radially extending shoulder ( 18 ) at the inner end of said first central bore, and wherein said tube ( 20 ) is pressed with its end face against said radially extending shoulder ( 18 ) by means of a gripping arrangement ( 13, 14, 15 ). The vacuum capability is achieved with simple components by providing a gasket ( 21 ) between said end face of said tube ( 20 ) and said radially extending shoulder ( 18 ) at the inner end of said first central bore ( 16 ).

1 . Tube coupling for connecting an object to one end of a tube in a UHV tight manner, withstanding pressures including several hundred bars, said tube coupling comprising:
 said tube and a tube fitting, wherein   said tube fitting comprises:
 a basically cylindrical body with a first central bore for receiving said tube, such that said tube is axially supported by a radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore, and wherein 
 said tube is pressed with its end face against said radially extending shoulder via a gripping arrangement which applies an axial force to said tube, wherein a gasket is provided between said end face of said tube and said radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tube coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping arrangement comprises a double ferrule. 
     
     
         3 . The tube coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said tube rests with its end face against said radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore, such that said gasket is pressed between said end face and said radially extending shoulder. 
     
     
         4 . The tube coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein a disc-shaped object is placed between said end face of said tube and said radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore, and in that wherein said gasket is arranged and pressed between said disc-shaped object and said end face of said tube, such that said tube is closed by said disc-shaped object in a vacuum-tight and pressure-tight manner. 
     
     
         5 . The tube coupling according to  claim 4 , wherein said disc-shaped object is an optical window. 
     
     
         6 . The tube coupling according to  claim 5 , wherein said optical window is made of one of quartz, glass, fused silica, MgF2 or sapphire. 
     
     
         7 . The tube coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said gasket is made of a malleable material. 
     
     
         8 . The tube coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said gasket is a composite sealing ring. 
     
     
         9 . The tube coupling according to  claim 5 , wherein a cushion of a material such as copper is provided between said window and radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore. 
     
     
         10 . The tube coupling according to  claim 4 , wherein said disc-shaped object is used as a termination of a chamber, an axial fixation, or a feed-through. 
     
     
         11 . The tube coupling according to  claim 4 , wherein said gripping arrangement comprises an increase in the outer diameter of said tube, achieved by welding, gluing, clamping, brazing, or by machining said tube to such specifications. 
     
     
         12 . A vessel that can be evacuated to a desired vacuum and filled with gas to a desired pressure and/or heated or cooled to a desired temperature, wherein at least one tube coupling (TC 1 , TC 2 ) according to  claim 1  is arranged at said vessel as a vacuum tight and pressure tight access to said vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one tube coupling wherein a disc-shaped object in form of an optical window is placed between said end face of said tube and said radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore, and wherein said gasket is arranged and pressed between said disc-shaped object and said end face of said tube, such that said tube is closed by said disc-shaped object in a vacuum-tight and pressure-tight manner. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein radiation receiving device(s) which receives optical, infrared or ultraviolet radiation are placed on the side of the window opposite to said tube. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel according to  claim 14 , wherein said optical radiation receiving device(s) comprises one of a photomultiplier tube (PMT), solid state light detector, avalanche diode, multichannel plate, image intensifier, charge-coupled device or optical concentration sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel according to  claim 12 , wherein said vessel is filled with a gas, in particular a noble gas. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel according to  claim 14 , wherein said vessel is filled with xenon for gamma detection purposes or with helium for neutron detection purposes, or with a mixture thereof, and is part of a radiation detector. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel according to  claim 13 , wherein said vessel comprises a central tube, at both ends of which a tube coupling (TC 2 ) is provided, wherein a disc-shaped object in form of an optical window is placed between said end face of said tube and said radially extending shoulder at the inner end of said first central bore, and wherein said gasket is arranged and pressed between said disc-shaped object and said end face of said tube, such that said tube is closed by said disc-shaped object in a vacuum-tight and pressure-tight manner. 
     
     
         19 . The tube coupling according to  claim 7 , wherein the malleable material material is gold, indium, lead, tin, platinum, copper, a fluoroelastomer or PTFE. 
     
     
         20 . The tube coupling according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is VITON.